Agriculture is the main economic activity in the Municipality, engaging about 60.9% of households (2010 Population and Housing Cencus). It is mainly of the subsistence type where cereals, legumes and vegetables are grown for home consumption and a little for the market. Even though there are few dams and dugouts which are being used for dry season gardening, the Municipality is basically dependent on rain fed agriculture. If irrigation systems are developed, farmers in the Municipality can do better as dry season farming will be improved greatly.

Cash crops in the municipality are onions, tomatoes and Soya beans. Tomatoes and Onions are cultivated in the dry season. This gives onion a name by the residents as the “cocoa of Bawku municipality”. There is also the potential for other cash crops such as Cashew, Mango and Shea, though the much has not been done in this area.

Poultry especially guinea fowl production is quite significant. Apart from supplying the protein needs of the people, it is also a very good source of income for farmers especially when there is crop failure. Cattle is also reared in the area

 

Table 7: Households by agricultural activities and locality

	Total			Urban			Rural
	Number	Percent		Number	Percent		Number	Percent
Total Households	15,012	100.0		9,979	66.5		5,033	33.5
Households engages in Agriculture	9,135	100.0		4,461	48.8		4,674	51.2
Crop Farming	8,192	100.0		3,570	43.6		4,622	56.4
Tree Planting	40	100.0		11	27.5		29	72.5
Livestock Rearing	6,639	100.0		2,938	44.3		3,701	55.7
Fish Farming	10	100.0		3	30.0		7	70.0

Source: Ghana Statistical Service, 2010 Population and Housing Census

According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, agriculture, including forestry and fishing, remains the largest industrial sector employing 46.5 percent of the employed population aged 15 years and older (39,143). The major crops grown are millet, sorghum, maize, rice, groundnuts, leafy vegetables, pepper, water melon, onion and livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, donkey etc.

The problems militating against agricultural development in the municipality include the following:

• Inadequate feed and water for animals during the long dry season
• Prevalence of pest and disease of both crops and livestock
• Inadequate irrigation facilities
• Low fertility levels of soil
• Indiscriminate cutting of trees
• Unfavorable market conditions
• Poor road network linking food producing areas
• Poor adaptive mechanisms to climate change
• Limited subsidy of Agricultural inputs
• Inadequate Agric Extension Officers

In order to feed this population adequately and be able to get extra produce for export, the above-mentioned problems need to be addressed in order to ensure an accelerated agricultural development in a sustainable environment.

In an attempt to address the many challenges of agriculture in the Municipality, attention shuld be turned to the construction and rehabilitation of dams and provision of pumping machines to farmers in the Bawku Municipality.

The Municipality has 8 dams located in the following communities; Kuka-Yakin, Tambaligu, Arizim, Zabgu, Kpalwega, Lalsa, Gbegu and Abuss. There are also some communities located along the tributary of the White Volta mainly Bador, Gentiga No 1and 2, Tampizua and Mognori. These serve as sources of water for dry season farming for the people but these facilities have silted up thus affecting the dry season farming considerably. Desilting these Dams and parts of the tributaries of the White Volta will go a long way to providing water for the dry season farming for the people with the help of the pumping machines. With the five communities along the tributary of the White Volta, 5 dams need to be constructed. A total number of about 400 pumping machines will be required. A total of about 60km Feeder roads will also need to be developed to link these farming communities.

Developing and construction of these dams will support commercial production of onions, tomatoes, green pepper, water melon, green leafy vegetables, carrots etc. These serve as sources of income for the people and create jobs for13, 835 people 7194 of whom are women and all of whom are smallholder farmers. 

Photo 1: A silted dam at Abuss-Bawku

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

Photo 2: A silted dam at Kpalwega-Bawku

 SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

Crop Production

The crops mostly cultivated by farmers during the rainy season are categorized below:

• CEREALS: -Millet, sorghum, rice and maize
• LEGUMES: -Groundnuts, cowpea and soyabean
• VEGETABLE:-Tomato, Pepper, Okro, Onion, Garden Eggs, Water Melon, and Leafy Vegetables

Table 8: Major crop performance: 2015-2017

Commodity	Production (MT)			Yield (MT/ha)
	Annual – 2015	Annual – 2016	Annual – 2017	Annual – 2015	Annual – 2016	Annual – 2017
Maize	13,258.0	14,212.9	15,448.8	2.19	2.3	1.0-4.0
Rice (milled)	4,980.8	5,093.9	10,169.14	2.5	2.73	3.3-7.6
Millet	2,680.0	2,541.7	3,812.55	1.0	1.0	0.5- 1.0
Sorghum	2,923.8	2,769.7	3,273.28	1.1	1.1	0.4-1.2
Soyabean	1,603.5	3,137.1	3,529.23	1.13	1.6	0.4-1.8
Groundnut	11.7	36.3	57.65	0.6	0.68	0.48-1.68
Cowpea	1,700.1	1,903.4	2,928.30	1.2	1.3	0.5-1.5
Sweet potato	25,094.16	25,658.07	26,433.45	8.9	9.1	6.25-12.5

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

 Figure 5: Major crop performance (production)

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

Figure 6: Major crop performance (MT/ha)

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

Drawing from Table 5 and Figures 3&4, that cereal crops, especially maize and rice perform better than legume crops. However, sweet potatoes performed better than both cereal and legume crops. There is the need to give attention to the less performing crops in order to balance the nutritional needs of the people.

It is also a revelation that the Municipality has the potential in the production of Maize, rice and sweet potatoes.

Rain Fed Agriculture

The main farming system in the district is rain fed mixed cropping.  Crop mixture is mostly cereal-cereal but occasionally a cereal -legume mixture.

Domestic Food Supply and Demand of Key Staples

It is clear from Table 6 and Figures 5, 6 and 7, that food supply exceeds food demand in the Bawku Municipality. This is an indication that the Municipality is food secured. In 2017 however, the demand for sweet potato is estimated to be higher than what will be supplied. The indication is that though sweet potato production is high, it still needs improvement in order to meet the demand.

Table 9: Domestic food supply and demand of key staples, 2015-2017

Domestic food supply (MT)				Domestic food demand (MT)
Commodity	Annual – 2015	Annual – 2016	Annual – 2017	Annual -2015	Annual -2016	Annual -2017
Maize	9,280.6	9,949.03	10,814.16	6,751.64	7,237.92	7,867.3
Rice (milled)	3,984.64	4,075.12	8,135.31	2,794.83	3,419.78	4,745.69
Millet	1,876	1,779.19	2,668.79	923.93	876.25	1,313.89
Sorghum	2,050.16	1,938.79	2,291.3	1,847.40	1,747.04	2,064.6
Soybean	1,362.97	2,666.54	2,999.85	133.84	261.85	294.85
Groundnut	9.95	30.86	49.00	8.78	27.23	43.24
Cowpea	1,445.09	1,617.89	2,489.05	1,009.25	1,129.9	1,738.35
Sweet potato	20,075.33	21,809.36	21,146.76	19,668.8	20,990.3	21,932.03

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

 

Figure 7: Food supply and demand of key staples, 2015

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

 

Figure 8: Food supply and demand of key staples, 2016

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

 

Figure 9: Food supply and demand of key staples, 2017

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

Livestock and Poultry Production

Livestock and poultry rearing is the second most important feature in agricultural development after crop production. Almost all farmers are engaged in the rearing of at least one type of livestock and poultry.  Apart from supplying the protein needs of the people, it is also a very good source of income for farmers especially when there is crop failure.

Photo 3: Guinea fowls rearing in Bawku

SOURCE: Department of Agriculture, 2017

Poultry production, especially guinea fowls is an area that can provide employment to the unemployed youth in the Municipality.

Hospitality Industry

This industry is completely underdeveloped in view of the importance of Bawku as both commercial and administrative centre and with a hospital whose catchment area is far and beyond the boundaries of the municipality.  There are only four (4) decent private guest houses and two restaurants in Bawku Township.  At present, there is no single standard hotel in Bawku.

The hospitality industry is an area that investors can look into. The patronage of a well-developed hotel cannot be underrated. Any investment into the hospitality industry in the Municipality is course worth considering.

Manufacturing

The Bawku municipality has no large-scale manufacturing industries. This has been the case since the collapse of the rice and groundnut oil mills in 1970s.  It is characterized by small-scale food processing, craft and manufacturing. Examples include smock weaving, pottery, blasmithing, cotton ginning/spinning/weaving, pito brewing and food processing.

Mognori Bricks and Tile Project

 

There is a non-operational bricks and tile plant at Mognori, about eight kilometers north of Bawku and close to Ghana – Burkina frontier.  Feasibility studies carried out revealed that the deposit can last up to one hundred years.  A test run was made in the mid1980s but production could not be sustained due to poor management.

A big potential market exists for the product of bricks and tiles in the region and northern Ghana as well as Burkina Faso and Togo such that the investor can take advantage of such market. It’s the expectation of the Municipality that as the proposal is revamped, jobs would be created for the unemployed youth in the Municipality.

 

 

Photo 4: Bricks used as oven at the Mognori brick factory

Source: BMA, 2017

Photo 5: Defunct machines at the brick factory

Source: BMA, 2017

A total of GH¢330,000.00 is required to revamp the factory to full operation.

 

Light Industries

There are a few auto-mechanic and spraying workshops in the township.  Some metal fabrication is undertaken by wayside welders, and at local technical institute, which also has carpentry and joinery as one of its courses.

Some of these small-scale industries are one-man businesses and hardly employ people.  Many groups funded by both government and non-governmental agencies are engaged in the processing industry.

Agro Processing

Processing of food stuff and cash crops is a common feature of the local economy.  The major agro processing activities include the following:

• Shea butter extraction
• Groundnut oil extraction
• Pito brewing
• Milling or grinding of millet, sorghum and maize for domestic use
• Dawadawa processing

According to the Business Advisory Centre, shea butter processing centres are investment ventures worth considering. The Municipality has some women group who are into Shear Butter processing. Through the Municipal NBSSI centre, they received some training on how to add value to the product. The low start-up capital of the individual is making their work at times difficult if not impossible. They are able to use the shear butter to produce Pomade, Soap, Shampoo and other hair products. The proposed processing centres will include some five (5) workshop centres in five different communities namely; Zuuku, Bugre Corner, Asikiri, Zabugu and Gozesi with 6 Grinding Mills in each community.

 

 

Photo 6: Shea butter processing

 

Commerce

Bawku municipality is regarded as the commercial nerve of the Upper East Region. The geographical location of Bawku, the Municipal capital gives it a commercial advantage as compare to other towns within the region. Due to its strategic location and its proximity to the eastern Burkina Faso and Northern Togo as well as easy crossing into Mali and Niger, trade is very important.  Food stuff like sweet potatoes and water melon are loaded on donkey carts to Bitou and other places in Burkina Faso every market days.  On Sankasse market days (Sundays and Thursdays), people from Bawku and other parts of the region as well as visitors cross the border to bring in motor bikes, drinks from Sankase etc.

Trading with other parts of the country is evidenced by the truck loads of animals and birds as well as foodstuff leaving for the south on market days.  In return, traders travel to Techiman, Kumasi, Tamale, Accra and Tema every day to bring in manufactured goods.

Markets

There are six markets in the Municipality. Five (5) out of the six markets are not well developed and as such are not meeting the requirements of the people. It is only the Bawku market that can boast of providing some facilities even then these are not enough. The others: Asikiri, Mognori, Bador, Bugri Corner and Gentiga can best be described as village or satellite markets.

Developing these other markets is necessary for the holistic development of the Municipality as far as commercial matters are concern. Their development will facilitate intra-district trade and boost external trade as well.  It must be indicated that the main market of the Municipality, the Bawku market needs radical development as it lacks several modern facilities.

If markets in the Municipality are developed, it will improve commercial activities which will go a long way to improve the living standards of the people.

Financial Sector

The Municipality has a few banking institutions, non-banking institutions as well as non-governmental organizations which arrange credit to support economic production.  The banking institutions include the Ghana Commercial Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Bayport Financial Services, Ghana National Bank, BESSFA Rural Bank and Toende Rural Bank. There are also other micro financial companies operating in the Municipality. The non-banking institutions are Social Security and National Insurance Trust, State Insurance Company and Quality Insurance Company.

In addition, non-formal credit arrangements such as ‘susu’ are available for traders and small-scale producers.  The National Board for Small-Scale Industries, the Department of Co-operatives  and BElim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA) are actively organizing rural women into groups and acquiring loans from various sources  to enable the groups engage in variety of economic activities like onion and groundnut cultivation, Shea butter processing and groundnut oil extraction.

It is worth noting that the baking institution is still an area that needs further development. The limited numbers of banks operating in the Municipality are unable to meet the banking needs of the teeming population. Banks are therefore encouraged to invest resource in the Bawku Municipality to solve the baking challenges of the populace as well as ensure their own development in this era of competition. The Municipality is peaceful and open to embrace any such adventure.

Roads and Transport

Road network in the municipality is generally poor.

The Municipality has a total road network of 433km. Currently, the network is made up of 25km (5.77%) paved and 408km (94.23%) unpaved.

Road Hierarchy

A hierarchical road network is essential to maximise road safety, residential amenity and legibility. Each class of road in the network serves a distinct set of functions and is designed for vehicular movement.

The five distinct levels of roads in the Municipality are:

• Access roads –  20feet (6m)  reservation
• Local roads                              – 50feet (15.2m)    
• Distributor/ Collector Roads – 80feet (24.4m)   
• Minor Arterial – 150feet (45.7m)   
• Major Arterial – 200feet (60.9m)   

Hierarchy of roads and their length

Roads within the municipality are mostly of Major and minor arterial, collectors and local roads.

• Arterial Roads – 221km
• Collector/Distribution – 108.6km
• Local Roads – 103.4km

Type of Roads and their lengths

• Engineered road – Sealed roads – 25km
• Engineered roads – Graveled Roads – 20km
• Un Engineered Roads – Reshaped Roads _ 388km

The above illustrations are indications that attention needs to be given to roads road development in the Municipality. The poor nature of roads is affecting all spheres of development in the municipality ranging from education, health, agriculture, commerce, sanitation and so on and so forth. Road development should be one of the priorities of the Municipality to ensure total development.

Transportation

The principal modes of transportation are roads and foot paths while models include vehicles (private cars, passenger trucks, taxis, buses and cargo trucks). Motor bikes and bicycles are the predominant means of transportation.  Donkey carts are also used as means of transport.

The impact of motorized transportation in the distribution of goods and services is still minimal, but has the potential to increase if the use of vehicles is encouraged through the provision of good roads in the entire municipality.